The countries of Britain, Denmark, Estonia, and Lithuania have called on the European Union to create information alternatives to Russian propaganda.

In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, foreign ministers from the four countries said Moscow was suppressing independent media and increasing "disinformation" to counter Western criticism over the war in Ukraine.

The letter added that Kremlin propaganda aims to undermine EU and Western unity, and called on the EU to create alternative sources of information to counter Russian propaganda by 2016.

The call comes just days after EU President Latvia announced it is considering plans to launch a Russian-language TV channel with EU support.

A Foreign Ministry official said a final decision is due to be taken in May.

Nearly 40 percent of the population in Latvia and neighboring Estonia are native Russian-speakers and regularly watch Russian-based television.